Immigration and Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

August 1, 2001

Vol. 36, No. 2, Summer 2001

Immigration has become an important economic policy issue in Atlantic Canada in the last few years among all four provincial governments. The issue has also been identified by the private sector. Although skills shortages, either current or anticipated, have been a key factor behind the recent emphasis on immigration, the provinces are seeking to recruit entrepreneurs as well as skilled workers. There are several important questions to consider, including whether a reformed temporary foreign worker program be better suited to address skills shortages, should more resources be devoted to encouraging the region’s well-educated young people to stay, and others. Four short articles in this issue address immigration as an economic development tool.